Antiskid device



Dec; 15, 1925 1,565.49?

A.C.RANMN ANTISKID DEVICE Filed March 4. 1924 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES 15 5;491- PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER CASWELL RANKIN, or en ENEvmLE, 'rENNEssEE.

ANTISKID DEVICE.

Application filed Iarch 4, 1924. Serial No. 696,849.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER CASWELL RANKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greeneville, in the county of Greene and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antiskid Devices,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relatesto certain improvements in anti-skid devices and has relation more particularly to a deviceof this general character especially designed and adapted for use as a tire chain, and it is an object of this invention to rovide novel and improved means-where y the wheels of a ve-.

hicle are prevented from skidding on wet or slippery surfaces. Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a device of this general character having means whereby the side slipping of the wheels 'of a vehicle is prevented.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this general character having means for increasin the tractive contact between the wheels 0 a vehicle and the ground.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and 'ar-' rangement of the several parts of-my-im proved device whereb certain im ortant advantages are attaine and the devlce rendered simpler, less expensive, and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use,

as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed. I Y

be the In order that my invention may better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawin wherein it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made as to the detailed construction and arrangement of parts with out departin from'the spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed, and in which drawings g .Figurel is a fragmentary plan view of my improved device;

Fi ure 2 is a plan view of the circular mem er;

v mem er;

-Fi ure 3 is an elevationof the circular Fi ure 4 is mem r at an angle of 45 degrees to Figure 3.

an elevation of the circular With reference to the accom anying drawings, A and B denote paral el side chains of an anti-skid device constructed in accordance with and embodying my inventron. The compete device comprises a plurahty of like sections disposed in spaced relation circumferentially around the tire of a wheel,-all of the sections being placed between and connected to the side chains.

Each of the'several sections comprises a cross-chain unit 1 and a diagonal chain unit 2. The cross-chain unit comprises a plurahty of interconnected curb links 3 disposed transversely across the tread of the tire and connected to the side chains by the elongated end links 3'.

The diagonal chain unit comprises the diagonal chains 4 constructed from a plurality of interconnected curb links 5, the lnner end links of the diagonal chains being connected to a circular ring 6 at the center of the tire tread. The ring 6 is undulated to provide offsets 7 spaced at intervals around its circumference with notches 8 therebetween adapted to engage the inner end links of the c ains 4 and outwardl extending projections 9 forming groun gaging means. The chains 4, radiating from the ring 6, terminate at their outer ends in the elongated, links 10 adapted to connect said chains with the side chains A and B.

The elongated links 3' and 10, forming the outer end links of the cross and diagonal chains, are. connected to separate links .of

I the side chains and in spaced relation to each other.

.In assembl the sections are so dis dbetween the side chains A and B as to ring the cross-chain of one section adjacent to the diagonal'chain unit of the adjoining section to provide a continuous alternation of the cross and diagonal chain units around the circumference of the tire.

When in operation, the cross-chain units provide anti-skid means adapted to prevent skidding of the vehicle in a longitudinal di-.

rection, the diagonal chain units act to revent side slipping as well as longitudinal skidding, and the offset projections of the central rings furnishv additional anti-skid and anti-slip means.

I claim An anti-skid device comprisin side chains, a plurality of like sections dls osed between sa1d side chains, each of sai sections consisting-pf. two units, one of said units comprising a circular member disposed intermediately between said side chains and diagonal chains leading therefrom and connected at their inner endsthereto, the outer ends of the diagonal chains being separately secured to individual links of the side chains, said circular member being undulated to rovide oifsets with notches therebetween or engaging the inner end links of the diagonal chains and to provide ground engaging means between said links, said dia onal chains to provide anti-skid and antislip means, and a cross chain connectin the side chains at a point substantially mi way between each pair of adjacent sets of diagonal chains, said cross chain being spaced from said adjacent pairs of diagonal chains In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

ALEXANDER C. RANKIN. 

